Bethlehem Township man jumps from 6th-floor window at St. Luke's University Hospital

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By Sarah M. Wojcik

poconorecord.com

By Sarah M. Wojcik

Posted Jun. 10, 2014 at 3:43 PM
Updated Jun 10, 2014 at 3:57 PM

By Sarah M. Wojcik

Posted Jun. 10, 2014 at 3:43 PM
Updated Jun 10, 2014 at 3:57 PM

» Social News

The 26-year-old Bethlehem Township man who was fatally injured in a fall at St. Luke's University Hospital broke through a locked bathroom window before jumping, according to a hospital spokeswoman.

The Express-Times of Easton reported that Jonathan L. Hanchick, of the 1600 block of Farmersville Road, was a patient at the Fountain Hill hospital when he jumped out of the window and fell three stories at 1:40 p.m. Wednesday. Hanchick was pronounced dead at 11:19 Monday night, according to Lehigh County Coroner Scott Grim.

Grim said the 26-year-old died of multiple blunt force trauma after falling from a sixth-floor window and ruled the death an accident.

Hanchick was taken to the trauma center at the St. Luke's facility after he crashed his motorcycle May 17 in Bethlehem Township, police Capt. Greg Gottschall said. Hanchick had not been wearing a helmet and had a blood-alcohol content of 0.16, police said. The threshold for penalties for most drivers is 0.08; Hanchick faced charges at 0.02 because this was his second offense, court records say. He was charged Friday with drunken driving, reckless driving and related charges.

Gottschall said today he was unaware whether Hanchick had been discharged from the hospital following the crash.

"To my knowledge, he was still there as a result of the accident," he said.

Denise Rader, spokeswoman with the hospital, said officials there would release no further information.

"Out of respect for patient and family privacy, we will not be providing additional details at this time," she said in a statement. "Our hearts go out to the family members."

Grim called the incident "an unfortunate incident" that involved no foul play or criminality. Fountain Hill police Chief Edward Bachert said the department's investigation lasted only as long as it took to determine there was no criminal element to Hanchick's death. He said after that, the investigation was handed over to hospital security.

Hanchick has had previous run-ins with the law.

He was acquitted in June 2010 by a Northampton County jury on charges of vehicular homicide and related offenses in a February 2008 crash that killed his close friend, 19-year-old Michael Schuyler, of Bethlehem Township.

Hanchick testified that he and Schuyler were in Lower Saucon Township following Gage Wrecsics, with whom they'd had an argument. Hanchick said Wrecsics suddenly slammed on his brakes and caused the crash. Schuyler was ejected from Hanchick's vehicle and died despite his friend's frantic attempts at CPR, according to court testimony.

A few months earlier, Hanchick was found not guilty in a simple assault case where he allegedly punched Jason Kociolek in the face Aug. 19, 2009, over a $20 loan while he was out on bail in the vehicular homicide case.

Hanchick pleaded guilty in October to terroristic threats after authorities say he threatened to blow up his ex-girlfriend's vehicle and shattered the car's windows with a golf club. He was sentenced to 12 months of probation and required to complete anger management counseling, court records say.